Arizona Teacher Shortage Continues Despite The Pay Raise

Every child has a right to education. Education is essential in getting knowledge and skills development. The teacher shortage that seems to be growing in Arizona is something that cannot be ignored. A recent study indicates that about a quarter of Arizona state teaching jobs remain open and that half of the teachers employed don’t have standard certification requirements.

The question remains, what is ailing the education system? Most teachers struggle at the middle class despite the great work they do of giving knowledge to our children. Teachers receive poor payment, and this has caused some of them to quit and to switch careers. Teachers in Arizona ranked as worst paid compared to other states in the US.

“They’ve been telling us they value us, and we’re underpaid since 2009”, said a demonstrating teacher.

Americans education graduate are no longer interested in the low-paid teaching jobs. Also, fewer college students are applying for the teaching courses. All these have contributed to the shortage of teachers in public schools. Teaching is becoming a less attractive profession.

This is the first year of “20 for 20” plan by Arizona governor Doug Ducey’s who promised a raise of teacher salaries by 10 per cent this year and 5 per cent each in the next two years. Despite the pay raise, data collected in a study, from 178 school districts as of Aug 31, indicate that about 24.8 per cent of teaching positions were still vacant few weeks after the school year. About 47.9 per cent of individuals who filled the positions didn’t meet the standard qualifications.

Dr Holmes, president of the Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association, says that, although the pay raise is “tremendous,” there is a need for more action to end the teacher shortage.

He adds that poor payment and expensive cost of higher education is discouraging college students from pursuing teaching careers. More money is needed in the education system to increase wages for the teacher to eradicate the shortage by giving our children their right to education.